If (putative Bitcoin inventor Satoshi) Nakamoto really wants the press to leave him alone, he should just start quoting statistics on rape & sexual assault in the military...Anil Dash

I think I speak for everyone when I say, "please don't let Jen Statsky speak for me."....Jen Statsky

The GOP only seems concerned about creating jobs for the poor when raising the minimum wage comes up....Greg Knauss

The EU has offered Ukraine $15 billion. They must be building a hell of a messaging app....Dave Pell

There's no easy way to say this, but the sixth sick Sheik's sixth sheep's sick....Matthew Baldwin

Apropos of tongue twisters, in news stories last year MIT claimed to have come up with the world's toughest English language tongue-twister: Pad kid poured curd, pulled cod. I contend this isn't a proper tongue-twister because it's really just a collection of words that don't make any real sense. Plus it's not that hard to say.

Speaking of tongue-twisters, Penn Jillette told an amusing story on his podcast about a trip he took to Japan (IIRC). He had interpreters at various stops where he would entertain and take questions from the audience. At one stop, offstage he asked his interpreter what the most difficult tongue twister in Japanese was. When translated to English, it was some nonsensical string of words. So at his next gig, with a different interpreter, he used the same string of words in one of his answers and just watched and waited for the new interpreter to try to say it in Japanese.

"The GOP only seems concerned about creating jobs for the poor when raising the minimum wage comes up..."

No, they only talk like they're concerned. The GOP has never taken the slightest interest in creating jobs, instead they're focused on creating more wealth for the top tier, while reducing their taxes.

The hospital line strikes a chord with me because I'm in them (and nursing homes & assisted living facilities) all the time for work... And every time I walk out I thank my lucky stars that I'm healthy enough that I'm not admitted and can walk out on my own... The Alzheimer's/ dementia care wards are particularly depressing...

And +1 for the Steinberg line... That narrator makes the show barely watchable... What genius at CNN approved the decision to use that guy?!?

And that MIT "tongue twister" is far from it; it barely contorts the tongue at all... I guess it's proof that MIT is a science school, not a language academy...

1. Eric, you're a lucky -- er, let's just say you made a great choice years ago.

2. Greg Knauss is both unfunny and just plain wrong here. One could also say that Democrats only care about the rich when raising campaign money, or that they only care about wiretapping when the other guy was doing it, or that they only care about God when they use Him to justify raising taxes. See how funny that is? Ho Ho Ho.

3. Jason Miller had better enjoy the shotgun while he can, before you-know-who takes it away. I wonder what Grandma did that was so bad? If Grandma is actually the mother-in-law, things can't possibly get better with your wife after shooting her mother, can it? Think things through.

4. Dienne, MIT students make mistakes too. I once met a math professor from there that said his students were forgetting to reverse the direction of inequality signs when taking reciprocals of both sides. When my students make that mistake, I tell them they are in good company.

5. Tongue twisters totally tank on Tuesdays.

6. Who is Jen Statsky? She doesn't speak for me.

7. Actually, Matt Haughly, I'm reminded of my good fortune not only by visiting hospitals but also visiting Walmart.

8. Did I miss something on the rape statistics thing? Was there actually a hearing on this where legislators walked out? I don't think there is that much apathy on this. Now, if Mr. Bitcoin had talked about the IRS scandal, then that would have cleared the room....

@ Robert Pruter. Oh yes, very creepy. If the wife hears this and sees you saying it, she knows too what you really mean. The only time that it's appropriate to say that to another man is when you are the best man and you're giving the toast and you genuinely believe the groom is lucky and you don't want to sleep with his new wife.

[Insert joke about how all men are always operating on alterior motives and want to sleep with any female they can regardless]

A much better wheat to chaff ratio this week, I gotta concede, Tom. I. e., 3 of these, identified by Dienne, are actually funny. I guess we can get used to a weekly visit from the dealer, one crack after another...

I don't know what a Chicago hot dog's speaking voice is like, but I wouldn't be too surprised to learn that that Mr. Konkol was eating one while doing the narration.

I'm an evil union supported employee who must have her wages and benefits reduced in order to provide lower taxes for the obscenely wealthy, whom will supposedly create more (minimum wage) jobs as a result.

Wendy, no secret you are jealous of those who achieve with out a union.
Any reason why you won't answer my questions ?
Perhaps you will not answer them is because the answer is YES ? same as me?

For the record, you could tax the obscenely wealthy 10 fold and your life will not change, however, the money that the obscenely wealthy suddenly stop throwing around will negatively impact many. Many.

About "Change of Subject."

"Change of Subject" by Chicago Tribune op-ed columnist Eric Zorn contains observations, reports, tips, referrals and tirades, though not necessarily in that order. Links will tend to expire, so seize the day. For an archive of Zorn's latest Tribune columns click here. An explanation of the title of this blog is here. If you have other questions, suggestions or comments, send e-mail to ericzorn at gmail.com.
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Contributing editor Jessica Reynolds is a 2012 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and is the coordinator of the Tribune's editorial board. She can be reached at jreynolds at tribune.com.